Locking device.



R. KOEHLER.

LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLlcATloN men Nov. 20, |915.

1,287,344. Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

4Missouri, have invented certain new Umran RUDOLPH KOEHLER, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSGUR.

LOCKING- DEVICE.

Engine and Steering-Gear of an Automobilel Together, of which the following is a specification.

This is 'a companion application to my application for Letters Patent on locking devices pertaining to automobiles which is executed of even date herewith, the aforesaid application pertaining to the constructionv of a foldable locking device whereas the present application pertains to a locking device of a solid structure.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a locking device that is applicable to the steering wheel of an automobile which when set in a position of locking will securely grip the engine control levers, corn- Inonly known as the carbureter lever and the spark control lever, and also the steering wheel in a set immovable position.

It is known that there are devices now in use that are adapted to lock the engine control levers against being moved, but it has been found that one familiar with the workings of the engine of an automobile can very quickly adjust things relatively to the parts controlled by the aforesaid. engine control leviers so that they can start the motor, and inasmuch as the steering wheel is not locked, the unlawful operator can drive. the automobile away.

The main theme of this invention therefore is to provide a locking device that will securely hold the engine control levers and steering wheel against movement.

Other and further objects will appear in the speciif'ation, and b e specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention, andV in which,

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of the steering wheel of an automobile showing the engine control levers, this improved locking device being locked to the wheel and levers.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

{Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, l designates a steering wheel Specification of Letters atent.

Application led November 20, 1915.

'end of said elongated ratenteainee. io, reis. serial no. $2,468.

which is mounted -to the upper end of the steering post 2, said post being mounted in the post support 3. Operatably mounted in the post I lever -1- and a spark controlV lever 5, said levers are mounted on the respective quadrants 6 and 7, and are adapted to abut stops 8 and 9 respectively when they are moved into their inactive positions.

rihe figures in the drawing show the locking device 10 in a position of locking said rlocking device comprising a horizontallyarranged portion 11 and leading upwardly support 3 is a carbureter control c and outwardly from the central portion.

thereof is an engaging arm 12, the upper arm 12 being bifurcated' as shown. at 13. Formed adjacent one end of the horizontally arranged portion 11 is an opening 14, and formed adjacent the opposite end of said portion 11 is a recess l5, said recess opening upwardly in the direct-ion as thebifuroated portionv 13, of the f arm 12.

Pivotall f mounted at 16 adjacent the recess 15 is a closing plate 17, said plate having a. recess 18 which is oppositely disposed relative to the recess 15. Formed in the outer end of the plate 17 is an opening 19, said opening being adapted to be placed in alinernent with the opening 20 which is formed in the horizontal portion 11 adjacent the recess 15. v

In the operation of this improved locking device, when it is desired to loci-r the steering wheel 1 and the control .levers 4 and 5, the locking device 1G is engaged andthe elongated opening lel thereof is mounted over the outer end of the spark control lever 5. rlhen the locking device approximate angle as shown by dotted lines in F ig. 2, and from there is adapted to be swung upwardly. the lever 5-serving as a pivot. lt is of course to be understood that at the time ci' locking, the control levers i and 5 are to abut their respective stops 8 and 9 and it is also essential that one of the spokes 2l of the steering wheel 1 to be placed in a position approximately midway between the ends of the levers 4 and 5, or in is moved into the other words, have one of the spokes arranged ,of the post support 3. As the locking de vice was being swung upwardly as just related, the recess 22 which is formed in the bifurcated portion 13 of the arm 12 will be broughtA` in engagement against the underside of 'the longitudinally arranged spoke 21 of the 'steering wheel. This engagement of the bifurcated portion against the spoke 21 will take place simultaneously with the engagement of the recess 15 against .the underside of the carbureter lever 4. The closure plate 17 is then moed downwardly uri-til the opening 19 thereotI is in alinement with the opening 20 which is fprined in the horizontal portion 11. The loey 'f3 is then inserted in said openings 19 antA and inasmuch as the recess 18 of thc plate 17 is oppositely disposed to the recess 15 oi' the-horizontal portion 11, the locking device-will be held immovable so that the control levers si and 5 cannot be manipulated, and the bifurcated portion 13 ot' the arm 12 straddling the spoke 21 will also hold the steering wheel 1 against movement. ln constructing this improved locking de vice, it is preferable to malte the slot o the bifurcated portion 13 curved so that the locking device after having one end engaged on the spark control lever 5 can be swung upwardly, the handle of the lever serving as a pivot theretoso that the slotted portions 15 and 22 will engage the carbureter lever i and spoke 21 respectively.

This device when not in operation is entirely removed from adjacent the parts which it is adapted to lock. `When this improved lockingdevice is in its locked position relative to the .steering wheel and engine control levers, it is preferable to have the side of the horizontal portion 11 abut against the stops 8 and 9 so that the same will be securely held in place.

What l claim is 1. in combination with steering wheel, and the controlling levers governing the supply of gasolene and the ignition systems of a vehicle, a body adapt-- ed to abut said steering post and having a portion te engage one of said levers, means for engaging a portion of said steering Wheel, and a lock to secure the other lever and the body port-ion together.A

2. An automobile lock comprisinga lock ing bar adapted to oear against one side of a steerirg shaft, said locking bar having means a f Le end for engaging one of the levers on one side of said steering shaft,

the steering post,

13 of the arm 12' geene/ie means at the other end tor engaging the other side of the steering shaft, and means intermediate o' the ends of said locking bar for engaging a portion of the steering wheel of said steering shaft.

3. ln combination, a steering wheel, a pair of engine control levers and a locking device :tor said wheel and said levers, an engaging portion formed in said locking device or the reception of one ot said levers, a recess formed in said locking device for the reception of the other said lever, a wheel engaging portion formed on said locking device, said locking device adapted to be swung from one of said levers so that, said recess will engage the other said lever, said wheel engaging portion adapted to be engaged against said wheel, when said recess is engaging said lever and means for locking said device to said levers and against said wheel.

4. In combination,- a steering wheel, a pair of engine control levers and a locking device, said locking device comprising a body portion, an opening formed in one end of said body portion, a recess formed in the opposite end of said body portion, an upwardly extending portion ormed intermediate of the ends of said body portion, said locking device being capable oi' having one end mounted over one end of one of said levers so that said device can be swung into a position so that the recess thereof will engage against the other said lever, said upwardly extendingr portion adapted to engage a portion of said steering wheel and a closure plate mounted on said body portion adapted to clamp said recessed lever in said recess.

5. A loclrfor locking the steering wheel ot' a vehicle and levers which extend from the opposite sides of the steering shaft, com prising a locking bar adapted to bea-r against one side of the steering shaft, an en gaging portion formed on said locking bar Jfor engagement with a portion of said wheel, and means at each end of the locking bar for engaging the respective levers, one oi' said means being a lock.

6. The combination with pivoted levers, a steering wheel, and a segment cooperating therewith, ot an arm provided near one end with an apertured head.y to receive one lever of :aid locking hat lever on the other t theretlirough, and having a' partadapted to retain one of the control-levers and at the ing means for locking the embraced controlother end to embrace the other control-lever lever fast with its related lock-bar end, and havingY a Cross portion forked at one whereby to lock both the controhlevers in 10 end to embrace a Spoke of the steering wheel closed position againsf yService movement and designed at the other end t0 bear againstand the steering wheel against turningr the steering column to prevent disengagemovement.

ment of the spoke engaging end, and lock- RUDOLPH KOEIILER. 

